Nagaland bye-elections: Political gatherings beyond 100 people allowed

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 14 (EMN): Ahead of the upcoming bye-election in two assembly constituencies in Nagaland scheduled to be held on November 3, the state government on Wednesday issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) concerning political gatherings outside containment zones.

The SOPs issued will come into force in the two assembly constituencies — 14-Southern Angami-I (ST) and 60-Pungro-Kiphire (ST) — during the permissible campaigning period.

“In exercise of the powers, conferred under section 22 (2) (b) and section 22 (2) (h) of the Disaster Management Act 2005, in the capacity of chairperson, state executive committee, hereby permits political gatherings, outside the containment zones, beyond the existing limit of 100 persons with immediate effect in those assembly constituencies, where bye-elections are to be held in the state, subject to strict compliance to the conditions and provisions as contained in the standard operating procedure annexed to  this order”, stated an order issued by additional chief secretary of Nagaland, J Alam.

However, political gathering outside containment zones beyond the limit of 100 people is permitted subject to various conditions: In a closed space, a maximum of 50% of the hall capacity will be allowed, with a ceiling of 200 persons; wearing of face masks; maintaining social distancing; provision for thermal scanning; and use of hand wash or hand sanitiser are mandatory. 

In an open space, it stated that there will be strict observance of social distancing based on the size of ground or space, mandatory wearing of face masks, and provision for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitiser. 

Public gatherings and rallies can also be conducted subject to strict adherence to Covid-19 guidelines.

Respective deputy commissioners have been directed to identify dedicated grounds for public gathering with clearly marked entry and exit points in advance. In all such identified grounds, the deputy commissioners should put markers to ensure social distancing norms by the attendees. 

Chief medical officers or district health officials should be involved in the process to ensure that all Covid-19 related guidelines are adhered to by all concerned in the district, it stated. DC should depute district health officials to oversee Covid-19 instructions and guidelines are followed during the meetings. 

Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police should ensure that the number of attendees does not exceed the prescribed limit. The DC also should ensure that all Covid-19 related requirements like face masks, sanitisers, thermal scanning etc. are fulfilled by the political parties and candidates concerned during gatherings.

The directive also said that subject to any other restriction(s) including extant Covid-19 guidelines, a group of five persons including candidates, excluding security personnel, if any, is allowed for door-to-door campaigning. 

For road shows, the convoy of vehicles should be broken after every five vehicles instead of 10 (excluding the security vehicles) and the interval between two sets of convoys of vehicles should be half-an-hour instead of a gap of 100 metres.

It added that non-compliance of instructions or anybody violating the provisions and the instructions on Covid-19 measures shall be liable to proceed against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under section 188 of the IPC, other legal provisions as applicable.